At no time in history has the United States had such a high percentage of theocratic members of Congress--those who expressly endorse religious bias in law. Just as ominously, at no other time have religious fundamentalists effectively had veto power over one of the country's two major political parties. As Sean Faircloth argues in this sobering yet engaging book, this has led to the crumbling of the wall of separation between church and state. While much of the public debate in the United States over church-state issues has focused on the construction of nativity scenes in town squares, Faircloth, a former politician, moves beyond the symbolism to explore the many ways federal and state legal codes privilege religion in law. He demonstrates how religious bias in law harms all Americans--financially, militarily, physically, socially, and educationally--and concludes with a ten-point vision of an America returned to its secular roots, and a specific and sensible plan for realizing this vision.--From publisher description.

Introduction : the crumbled wall between church and state -- Our secular heritage : one nation under the Constitution -- Religious bias in law harms us all -- Genital morality vs. real morality -- Two American traditions : religious hucksters and secular innovators -- The theocrats (aka the Fundamentalist Fifty) -- The secularists -- Secularism : born again -- Our secular decade : a strategic plan -- A vision of a secular America.